Malta’ s Azure Window Arch Collapsed into the Sea

The famous Azure Window in Malta which was featured in the popular HBO TV series “Game of Thrones” and the film “Clash of the Titans” has collapsed into the sea after a heavy storm yesterday morning at around 9.40am.

Malta’s prime minister, Joseph Muscat, announced the news on Twitter and also tweeted a picture of the site from where you used to be able to admire the Azure Window which showed that not only the arch had collapsed into the sea but also the stacks on either side.

Opposition leader Simon Busuttil tweeted that it was a “sad day for Malta”.

The limestone arch, known as Tieqa tad-Dwejra in Malta, had been subject to erosion over the years, however, a study conducted in 2013 suggested that it would last for decades. Over the past few years, concerns over the beautiful landmark have been growing and fines have been introduced to prevent people from walking over the arch. Doing so could have resulted in a fine of €1,500.

Geologist Peter Gatt said that the erosion that finally led to the collapse had been caused by under – and overground sea swells.

The Azure Window was 50m high, located on the island of Gozo in Malta and attracted tourists from all over the world. It emerged over a period of 500 years as the result of rain and sea erosion carving a hole into the cliff. Over the last 30 years, the arch had been increasingly widening so that the collapse of the arch came as no surprise.